Web supply means



July 30, 1935. D. J. SCOTT WEB SUPPLY MEANS a sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1932 INVENTQR find .l Snail BY ATTORNEY D. J. SCOTT WEB SUPPLY MEANS July 30, 1935.

a Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1932 INVENTOR fiamd J Scafi' ATTORNEY 5135;; 3a, 1935,, D, J COTT 2,009,707

WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed NOV. 15, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 HHHHH HW' INVENTOR Jul/m J 560/ ATTORNEY Juiy 30, 1935. D. J. SCOTT 2, 0

WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Jul/id I Staff BY ATTORNEY Juiy 3Q, 1935.

D. J. SCOTT WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1932 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jamd I -5(0// ATTORNEY M n in July 30, 1935. D. J. sco'r'r WEB SUPPLY MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 15, 1932 INVENTOR flamd 1560]! ATTORNEY July 30, 1935. D. J. SCOTT WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR Jana j 500%].

ATTORNEY Jui'ly 30, 19350 D. J. SCOTT WEB SUPPLY MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1932 8 Shets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR flax/1d .f. .5602? BY W -ATTORNEY Patented July 30, 1935 V7 EB SUPPLY MEANS David J. Scott,

Plainfield, N. J.

Application November 15, 1932, Serial No. 642,714

18 Claims.

This invention relates generally to web supply means, and has more particularly reference to roll change mechanism such as is used in connection with printing or other web-pulling machines.

The main object and feature of the invention is to provide simple and effective means whereby a replenishing web roll can be substituted for an active web roll without the necessity of stopping the printing machine, or without slowing it down unduly, in such a way as to avoid undue stress on the running web when effecting a roll change. Other features of invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is disclosed in a concrete and preferred form in which;

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, looking in the direction of arrow of Fig. 2, showing a device embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the limit switch, looking in the direction of arrow 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation looking in the direction of arrow 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a view in elevation, partly broken away, of the web-severing device, looking substantially in the direction of arrows of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view through a partof the web-severing device shown in Fig. 7; Figs. 10 and 11 are transverse sectional views substantially on the plane of lines |t|0 and respectively of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view substantially on the plane of line l2--|2 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the plane of line |3-|3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view substantially on the plane of line |4|4 of Fig. 13;

Figs. 15 and 16 are diagrammatic views showing the steps in making a transfer from one roll to 53 another; and

Fig. 1'7 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical controlling means of the apparatus.

A plurality of rotatable web rolls (Figs. 2 and 6), here three in number, are employed, said rolls being indicated by 20, 2| and 22. 20 is the 7 active roll and has its running web 23 threaded into a printing or other machine 24 (Fig. 17) that unwinds the web from the roll. 2| and 22 are replenishing web rolls awaiting to be employed and which in turn become active rolls. The three rolls are carried by spaced-apart arms 25 of a spider 28, the center of rotation of which is indicated by shaft 21 and, when a roll change is to be effected, shaft 21 is turned clockwise in Fig. 2 to bring the periphery of replenishing roll 2| into contact with running web 23 so as to unite the webs of the active and replenishing rolls by means of a pasted joint in a manner well understood. 7 Any suitable means can be employed to turn shaft 21 but, as here shown, an electric motor 28 is used for this purpose, said motor driving said shaft by a train of transmission elements here consisting of armature pinion 29, gears 30, shaft 3|, worm 32, worm wheel 33, shaft 34, pinion and gear 36. Arms 250)? the spider carry bearings 31 for the reception of rotatable core-engaging means or web roll supporting means 38 that are provided with brake drums 39 for the reception of brake shoes 40, said brake drums having non-radial cooling fins 4| that by rotation of the brake drums, during the unwinding operation, tend to cool the brakingelements. Each brake shoe is actuated by a brake lever 42 pivotally connected to one brake shoe member at 43 and pivotally connected to the other brake shoe member by a link 44. Although each web roll supporting means is equipped with a brake mechanism, it is only desired to control the brake mechanism of the active web roll. In order to accomplish this, the following means are employed: a plurality of rockshafts 35 (Figs. 13 and 14) are supported by brackets 45 on shaft 21. On each rockshaft is an actuating lever '41 carrying a roller 58 to engage its corresponding brake lever. Also mounted on said rockshafts are a plurality of arms 49, one on each rockshaft and each carrying a roller 50. 5| indicates a cam to engage eachroller as the latter passes beneath the same, and said cam is pivotally carried by two levers 52 that are mounted on pins 53 supported on brackets 54 of the framework. Levers 52 are connected by link 55 and one of said 1evers is further pivotally connected to controller rm 56 which latter in turn is connected to controller roller 51 pivotally supported on shaft 58 which carries a balancing weight 59 and has connection with the plunger of a dashpot 60, in ac cordance with the well-known Jones tension construction. Web 23 is carried over rollers GI and 52 and around roller 51, and sa roller 51 moves back and forth in response to the tightness or slackness of the web. Thus if the active web roll is rotating too fast in response to the pull of the printing machine, slack will accumulate in the web and said roller 51 will move to the right in Fig. 2 thereby exerting an upward pull on rod 56 which has the effect of bringing cam 5| nearer the center of shaft 21, thereby depressing roller 55 and actuating brake lever 42 to make the brake of the web roll more effective. Conversely, if the active web roll is rotating too slowly in response to the pull of the printing machine, web 23 will move roller 51 to the left in Fig. 2, and this will, through the connections previously described, render the brake of the active web roll less eifective. It will be seen that when replenishing roll 2| is brought into contact with web 23 to make a pasted joint, it is necessary to provide a backing means for the running web.- As here shown, this backing means consists of a set of tapes or aprons 63 carried by a frame 64 pivotally supported at 64 on the main frame of the machine, andhaving sustaining' means 64* that admit of a limited pivotal movement of said frame but which normally hold the tapes out of contact with the running web. One end of the tapes may also be mounted in a spring-pressed bearing 66 that permits the tapes to more readily conform to the contour of the replenishing roll when the latter brings the running web against the tapes. Continued rotation of shaft 21 causes the replenishing roll to pass by the tapes to the final position occupied by roll 29 in Fig. 2. In order to avoid placing undue tension on the running web, these tapes have a speed in excess of the speed of the running web. Two small electric motors 65 are here utilized to tend to drive the tapes at this excessive speed, but the motors are of such character that they will-be retarded when pressure is-brought to beara-gainst the tapes. or the tapes may be considered a slip-friction drive, the slippage taking place either between the tapes and the running web or between the tapes and the pulleys over which they pass. The backing membertherefore assists the running web in bringing the web of the replenishing roll up to the speed of therunning web when the replenishing roll brings the running web against the backing member.

Inaddition to assisting the running web to bring the replenishing web up to speed, the driven backing member performs an additional function if the brake control means, previously described, are used. As will be understood, the amplitude of movement of roller 51 is such that it will respond to variations in tension of the running web within relatively narrow limits. Should it now be atempted, by turning the spider on center 21, to bring the periphery of replenishing roll 2! from the position shown in Fig. 15 into the successive positions shown in Fig. 16, it will be seen, owing to the fact that roll 2! is not rotating on its own axis at this time, that the running web from active roll 20' will be subjected not only to the retarding influence of its brake, but also to the inertia of web roll 2 I, because the replenishing roll will not merely contact the running web, but will bring said web against the backing means, here tapes 63/ This will cause such abnormal fluctuations in the tension of the running web that excessive movement of controller 51 and the brake mechanism will result. This. condition is, however, avoided bythe driven backing member which assists the running web and thereby prevents excessive movement of controller 51 and the brake mechanism. If a motor, as 28, is utilized to turn the spider, it is desirable to employ a limit switch,

as indicated in Fig. 3, where contact 6'! controlling the circuit of the motor is shown open, this having been effected by one of the high points of cam 63, carried by shaft 21, at the time the web rolls reach the position indicated in Fig. 2. If desired this limit switch can also control motors 85, and said motors can be energized by the same switch that energizes motor nor-can be constantly energized.

After the pasted joint between the webs has been effected, the web from the now practically exhausted roll can be severed by hand, but it is preferred to have a web-severing device carried by the spider, which device here takes the following form: carried by shaft 21 are three pairs of auxiliary arms 69 that are intermediate the arms 25. which carry the web rolls. Each pair of auxiliary arms carries a web-severing member, so that there is a device for the web of each web roll. 16 indicates a. tubular member extending between two arms 69', and within. this member, but capable of protrusion therefrom, is a severing blade ll secured to bar 12 having cam slots 13 engaged by pins 14' carried by the brackets of the tubular member. It will". be seen that when bar 12' is moved to the right in Figs. 7 and 9 (in opposition to spring 12a), pins 14* and slots 13 will cause blade ll to protrude from the tubular member. An antifriction roller 75 and a steadying member 15 facilitate this action. The lengthwise movement of bar 12 is effected by energizing and deenergizing solenoid or motor '71. Energization of said solenoid attracts plunger 18, and the lower end 19 of said plunger acts to depress one arm of a bell crank pivoted at 8!. The other arm 82 of the bell crank is engaged in slot 83 of bar 12, and. it will therefore be seen that when the solennid is energized said bar 12 is moved to the right in Figs. '7 and 9, and when said solenoid is deenergized the parts are restored to their normal position. In order to energize the solenoids, gear 36 carries two insulated rings, one of which, 84, is continuous, and the other of which is made up of three sectors 85, 86 and- 81- insulated from each other and from 84". Contacting with these two rings are two brush members 88' and 89, and these are carried by a bell crank 90 (Figs. 2, 4 and 13) pivoted at 9| and provided witha spring 92 that tends to urge the shoes or brushes against the rings, and in fact constitutes a self-adjusting. mounting so that if shaft 2T is moved longitudinally, as it sometimes is to bring the web roll into line with the printing cylinders, said brushes will remain in contact with the rings. It will be apparent that by these means the proper solenoid 11 can be energized at the proper time to sever the expiring web and that this can be done automatically or by hand.

93 indicates a reversible motor to adjust shaft 21 and its equipment endwise, and transmits its power, by means of armature pinion 94, to gear 95, and thence by means of gear 96 to worm 91 which latter engages a worm wheel 98. Worm wheel 98 is carried by a bushing 99 that is internally threaded and engages externally threaded stem I00 which therefore moves' lengthwise in. one direction or the other. Said stem is provided with a head IOI' engaging the end of shaft 21 which therefore is made to slidein bearings I02.

A preferred form of electrical; equipment is shown in Fig. 1'7. Motor 28- shouldbecapable not only of turning the spider to effect the bringing together of the two webs, but should also be capable of adjusting the position of the spider in either direction, and said motor is therefore reversible. By closing contact I03, current will flow from line wire I04, over wires I05, I06 and I01, contact I03, wire I08, coil or relay I09 to line wire H0. The energization of coil I09 closes contacts III and H2, and current now flows from line wire I04, over wire II3, contact III, wire II4, motor 28, wires H5 and H6, contact H2, and wire I I1 back to line wire I I0. This will cause motor 28 to run in a forward direction to turn the spider clockwise in Fig. 2. When contact H8 is closed and I03 is open, current will flow from line wire I04, over wires I05, I06 and I01, contact II8, wire I I9, coil or relay I20 and wire I2I back to line wire I I0. The energization of coil I20 closes contacts I22 and I23, and current now flows from line wire I04, over wire I24, contact I22, wire II5, motor 28, wire II4, wire I25, contact I23, and wire I26 back to line wire II 0. This will cause motor 28 to run in reverse direction to turn the spider counter-clockwise in Fig. 2.

When a roll change is to be effected, the following equipment may be used: contact I21 is closed thereby establishing a circuit from line wire I04, over Wires I05 and I28, contact I29, wire I30, contact 61, wire I3I, contact I32, wire I33, contact I21, wire I34, coil or magnet I35, and wire I36 back to line Wire II 0. Energization of coil I35 closes contacts I31, I38 and I39. When contact I31 is closed, it establishes a shunt around contact I21 from wire I33, wire I40, contact I31, wire I4I, wire I34, magnet I35, wire I36 and line wire II 0, and therefore contact I21 can be released without deenergizing coil or magnet I35. Consequently contacts I31, I38 and I39 will remain closed. When contact I38 is closed current will flow from line wire I04, over wires I05 and I06, contact I38, wire I42, wire I 08, magnet I09 and back to line wire IIO. It will be seen that this circuit shunts contact I03, but nevertheless energizes magnet I09 to thereby rotate motor 28 in a forward direction as previously described. If desired, motors 65 can be included in this arrangement by inserting them say in line I 38. Contact I43 is now closed and current then flows from line wire I04, over wires I05 and I44, contact I43, wires I45, coil or magnet I46, wire I41, contact I39, and wires I 48 and I36 back to line wire IIO. It will be observed that this circuit cannot be established unless contact I39 was previously closed by magnet I35. The energization of magnet I46 closes contact I49, and current will now flow from line wire I04, wire I50, contact I49, wire I5I, brush 89, ring 84, one of the coils or solenoids 11, one of the segments, in this case 85, shoe or brush 88, wires I 52 and I44, contact I43, wire I45, coil I46, wire I41, contact I39, wires I48 and I36, back to line wire I I0. Thus the webseveringdevice is actuated, and it will be noted that the. circuit through the web-severing solenoid cannot be established unless the motor circuit has been previously closed by closing contact I21, because otherwise contact I49 will not be closed and that therefore the solenoid circuit is interlocked electrically with the motor circuit. Contact 129 is speed-governed being controlled by governor I53 and held closed when said governor iswrunning below a given speed. The governor is driven by shaft I54 and the gearing shown from printing machine 24 so that, in the present case, a roll change cannot be efiected unless the printing machine has had its speed reduced to a given point. In order to readily ascertain when-such reduced speed has been reached, a lamp or other indicating device as I55 may be employed and it will be seen that this lamp is included in a circuit between contact I29 and line wire IIO, said circuit here consisting of wires I58 and I51, which circuit will be established whenever contact I29 is closed, even though contacts I21, I32 and 61 be open, because current can then fiow from line wire I04, over wires I05 and I28, contact I29, wire I58, lamp I55, wire I51 and back to line wire I I0.

A brief summary of the operation of the device is as follows: when the last previous roll change was effected, limit switch 61 was opened by one of the high points of cam 68 and thus all operating circuits were destroyed and rotation of shaft 21 was stopped, contact 61 remaining open. When it is now desired to make'the'next roll change, contact I03 is closed just long enough to energize motor 28 to turn shaft 21 sufliciently to bring the high point of cam 68 past contact 61 whereby the latter will close. Contact I21 will now be closed and (contacts I29, 61 and I 32 being in their closed position) 'the circuit previously described will be established through motor 28 to thereby rotate shaft 21 to bring the replenishing roll against the running web so as to deflect the latter against the backing member. Contact I21 can be released as soon as mag-v net l35 becomes energized as said magnet will hold the motor circuit closed in the manner previously described. When a pasted joint hasbeen made between the twowebs, contact I43 is closedthereby actuating the web-severing solenoid while shaft 21 is still rotating. Upon completion of the required movement of shaft 21, contact 81 will be opened by the next high point of cam 68 and the circuits through the motor and the web severing solenoid will be ruptured. Contact I32 is normally closed, but is a stop switch which can be opened at any time by the operator in case, for any reason, he desires to interrupt the roll change operation.

I claim:

1. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; a backing member, normally out of contact with the running web, having a speed in excess of the speed of the running web but capable of a lower speed when pressure is exerted against it; and means to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with the backing member so, as to avoid placing undue tension on the running web when a joint is made between the two Webs.

2. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls, each of which is alternately an active roll with its web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a backing member, normally out of contact with the running web, having a speed in excess of the speed of the running web but capable of a lower speed when pressure is exerted against it; and means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web .under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with the backing member so as to avoid placing undue tension on the running web when a joint ismade between the two webs.

3-'.-Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having a rotatable repleni'sl i'ing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; a backing member normally out of contact with the running web; means, capable of being retarded by pressure exerted against the backing member, to tend to drive said backing member at a speed in excess of that of. the running web; and means to bring the; periphery of the replenishing roll into contact'with the running web under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with: the backing member so as to avoid placing undue tension on the running web when a joint is made between the two webs.

4 Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls, each of which is alternately an active roll with its web threaded into a machine. and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to 5 the running webof an active roll; a backing member normally out of contact with the running web; means, capable of being retarded by pressureexerted' against the backing member, to tend. todrive said backing member at a speed in excess ofthat' of the running web; and means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with the backing member so'- asto" avoid placing undue tension on the running web when a joint is made between the two Webs.

5. Web supply means including: a support having'an active web roll the web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; asupport having a rotatable replenishing webroll the web of which is to be united to the running web; a slip-friction backing member, normally out of contact with the running web, having a speed in excess of the speed of themening web; and. means to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with the backing member so as to avoid placing undue tension on the running web when a joint is made between the twowebs.

6. Web supply means including: a support hav ing an active web-roll the web of which is threaded i'nto amachine that unwinds the web from the roll; asupport having a rotatable replenishing web rollthe web ofwhich is to be united to the running web; a slip-friction backing member, normally out of contact with the running web, having a speed in excess of the speed of the running web; and means to turn the reel to bring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web under such pressure as to-defiect such running web into engagement with the backing member so as to avoid placing undue tension on' the running web when a joint is made between the two webs.

7. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the web of which is threaded into'a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; variable brakemechanism that controls the speedofrotation of the active roll; a controller governed by the tension of the runningweb of the" active roll to vary the effectiveness ofthe brakemechanism: a support having a'rotatable ning web but capable of a lower speed when pres sure is exerted against it; and means tobring the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with the backing member so as to avoid placing undue tension on the running web and to prevent excessive movement of the controller and brake mechanism when a joint is made between the two webs.

8. Web supply means including: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls, each or" which is alternately an active roll with its web threaded into a machine and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; variable brake mechanism that controls the speed of rotation of the active roll; a controller governed by the tension of the running web of the active roll to vary the effectiveness of the brake mechanism; a backing member, normally out of contact with the running web, having a speed in excess of the speed of the running web but capable of a lower speed when pressure is exerted against it; and means to turn the reel to bring'the periphery of the replenishing roll into contact with the running web under such pressure as to deflect such running web into engagement with the backingmember so as to avoid placing undue tension on the running web and to prevent excessive movement of'the controller and brake mechanism when a joint is made between the two webs.

9. In a web supply means: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls, each cfwhich is alternately an active rollwith its web threaded into a machine that unwinds the'web from the roll and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a web-severing device for the running web; a motor to rotate the reel; a motor to actuate the web-severing device; means to actuate the reel motor; and means to actuate the motor of the web-severing device operatable only when the reel motor is being actuated.

10. In a web supply means: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable web rolls, each of which: is alternately an active roll with its web threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll and areplenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a web-severing device for the running web; a motor to rotate the reel; a motor to actuate the web-severing device; means to actuate the reel motor; and means to actuate the motor of the web-severing device operatable only after the reel motor has been actuated for a" given period;

11. In a web supply means: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable webrolls, each of which is alternately an active roll with its web threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll and a replenishing roll: the web of reel motor must be energized before the electromagnetic device can be energized.

12. Web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the running web of which is threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll; a support having a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; means to bring the webs of the two rolls together to effect a joint therebetween; and means to prevent the bringing together of said webs unless the running web is moving below a given speed.

13. Thecombination withaweb-pulling machine of web supply means including: a support having an active web roll the running web of which is threaded into the web-pulling machine; a support having a rotatable replenishing web roll the web of which is to be united to the running web; means to bring the webs of the two rolls together to effect a joinder thereof; and means to prevent the bringing together of said webs unless the pulling machine is moving below a given speed.

14. The combination of a printing machine; web roll change mechanism; means to actuate said mechanism to effect a roll change; and a device governed by the speed of the printing machine to prevent the roll change from being effected unless the printing machine is running below a given speed.

15. The combination of a printing machine; a rotatable reel to support a plurality of web rolls; means to rotate the reel to effect a roll change; and a device governed by the speed of the printing machine to prevent rotation of the reel unless the printing machine is running below a given speed.

16. The combination of a printing machine; a rotatable reel to support a plurality of web rolls; means to rotate the reel to effect a roll change; a device governed by the speed of the printing machine to prevent rotation of the reel unless the printing machine is running below a given speed; and means to rotate said reel regardless of the speed of the printing machine.

17. In a web supply means: a rotatable reel to support a plurality of rotatable Web rolls, each of which is in turn an active roll with its running web threaded into a machine that unwinds the web from the roll, and a replenishing roll the web of which is to be united to the running web of an active roll; a brake mechanism for each roll carried by the reel; a web-severing device for each roll carried by the reel; and means controlled by the rotation of the reel to render the actuating means for both the brake mechanism and the web-severing device of a roll operatable when in active position and to render them inoperative when it moves out of active position.

18. In a web supply means: a rotatable shaft; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced main arms, to support rotatable web rolls, arranged in pairs on said shaft, the arms of each pair being spaced lengthwise of the shaft; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced auxiliary arms arranged in pairs and mounted independently of said main arms near opposite ends of said shaft between said main arms and the ends of the shaft and circumferentially intermediate said main arms; and a web-severing device extending between the arms of each pair of auxiliary arms.

DAVID J. SCOTT. 

